CHAPTER THREE:

Vegeta opened his eyes slowly. He blinked for several minutes, trying to establish his odd surroundings. He seemed to be lying amongst a bed of pale gold f’uari. Inhaling the sweet, sharp scent, he stretched languidly and immediately froze as he realized his state of undress. He noticed how sticky his body was, and in a rush, memories of last night flooded his mind. He smelt of sex and…

~ Kakkarrot…~

He sat up sharply, wondering if this was déjà vu all over again. The last time he had woken up beside the kin’tai , the boy had done a disappearing act on him. Well, not this time. He had claimed Kakkarrot for his own, and there was no way he was going to allow him to escape that easily. Speaking of which…where in the world was the elusive Saiyan?

Springing lithely to his feet, he walked through the field of endless flowers, carefully observing his surroundings. The strong morning wind whipped across his nude form, causing him to shiver slightly. Wrapping his tail around his waist tightly, he stopped his stroll as he approached the edge of the plateau. His sharp eyes took in the destruction of the landscape around him. No doubt the work of both he and Kakkarrot. Rubbing the bite mark against his neck absentmindedly, he closed his eyes and allowed his mind to do the searching instead. Being mated with someone did have its advantages after all.

He didn’t have to search very long, for his sense of smell signaled the slow approach of the other Saiyan. Snapping his eyes open, he spun around and pinned them on the man that now stood a few yards away from him.

For several gut-wrenching moments, not a word was said. Vegeta’s body tingled with unabashed awareness as he drank in the sight of the naked, god-like creature before him. Unwillingly, his tail uncoiled itself away from his waist and began a slow weave of appreciation. His breath quickened, and he found himself blushing furiously at the obvious evidence of his arousal. Straightening himself up however, he refused to show his slight unease at the tension in the air.

Kakkarrot had not moved an inch. His handsome features were as blank and as unreadable as ever. Vegeta tried to penetrate his thoughts, but had to wince slightly as he felt the sharp pain of refusal. Kakkarrot was shutting him out. After all that had happened between them…he was still being shut out.

This made the Ha’j  very upset.

Scowling fiercely, he spat out, in as cold a voice as he could manage. “Well? Is this the way you greet me?”

Kakkarrot remained silent. The blank look still lingered in his dark eyes.

“You stupid third class filth!!” Vegeta roared in anger. He hadn’t wanted to say that. He did not want to hurt Kakkarrot. But the silence and pain was overwhelming, and he could barely control his thoughts or actions. He could only lash out his frustrations. “ANSWER ME!!”

Kakkarrot’s eyes darkened with a dull sense of anger, before resuming its blank stare. He clenched his fists tightly and willed himself to calm down. He took in the raging being of the King before him and felt a slow well of lust rise from the pit of his stomach. Come to think of it, the King was a sight to behold. The last five years had certainly done wonders for him. Hard toned muscles, straining in their anger, seemed to blaze in gold beneath the morning sun. His dark auburn spikes of hair waved wildly in the wind. Dark eyes flashed with conflicting emotions that ranged from hurt to desire to need.

~ And he still wants me… ~ Kakkarrot thought with cruel amusement, as he took in the lower parts of the King’s anatomy.

Vegeta felt his skin flush in embarrassment and disbelief. How could he stand here and just take this? Kakkarrot was slowly making him into a nervous wreck, and the ka’tai hadn’t even said a word. The slow appraisal of his body caused him to shift restlessly and finally, having had enough, he roared in fury.

“I will bash that blank look right out of your face, you good for nothing bastard!!”

With a speed that would have alarmed anyone else, he flew towards the unmoving Saiyan, his fists drawn back for a crushing blow…which never landed, for the next thing he knew, his hands had been stopped by Kakkarrot’s fist.

~ Ja’ri ? How can he be that fast? ~

Growling in frustration, he spun away and tried a roundhouse kick. He watched in disbelief as Kakkarrot dodged the move with a speed that took his breath away. He landed to the ground in a grunt and crouched defensively. He was irritated to find himself a bit out of breath, and to make it worse, the other Saiyan did not seem to look a bit perturbed.

~ I cannot believe anyone can be that fast. He has to have a weakness. I am his King, for Za’ani’s  sake!! I cannot let a Ba’an  beat
me! ~

~ But you could take away the very thing that made the Ba’an  happy, ne nu Ha’j ? ~

Vegeta blinked at the response. He stood upright and stared in growing alarm at the darkening look on Kakkarrot’s face.

~ I don’t understand… ~

~ How could you?! How could you understand anything?! All you do is sit on your throne and hand out judgments like some sort of a game!! Have you no conscience?!! ~

Vegeta grit his teeth and clenched his fists at the false accusation. “You judge me unfairly, Kakkarrot.” he said out loud. “I am only doing what has to be done to unite our people…”

A harsh and bitter laugh escaped the younger man’s mouth. “Unite? Unite?!! Don’t make me laugh. The only thing you have succeeded in doing, Vegeta, is to give my people more of an incentive to destroy you and your worthless regime!!”

Vegeta felt like he had been slapped in the face ten times over. He could not believe the words of derision that had flowed out of Kakkarrot’s mouth. And to make matters worse…it hurt. Very deeply.

He bowed his head in confusion, biting his lower lip to control his emotions, but the more he tried to compose them, the more Kakkarrot’s hurtful words came.

“She was to be my bride, Vegeta. My mate. And you killed her. You sent your wa’zuai , and they took away the most precious thing I ever had. You hurt my people! Took away everything that they ever wanted…all to satisfy Frieza!!”

Kakkarrot blinked…how had he known that? But that did not matter now. All that mattered was his insane urge and desire to make the King feel pain. To feel the pain that he had gone through and the renewed wounds that threatened to drive him insane. His dreams last night…he shook his head, not wanting to believe that it had happened. But he just couldn’t escape it. His father’s life force…

“You deserve it.”

He jerked out of his reverie at the cold words that were emitted from Vegeta’s lips. For several seconds, he could only stare blankly at the stoic and non-committal stare on the King’s face. “What did you say?” he whispered softly.

Vegeta’s lips curled up into a cruel sneer. “I said you deserved it, Kakkarrot! Or do you need your hearing checked?! My advisors were right. You all are nothing but a bunch of pathetic weaklings with a penchant for trouble making, and you know what Kakkarrot?”

Kakkarrot could only stare in incredulity, as he watched Vegeta stalk up to him, before stopping within inches of his face.

“I am glad she is dead.”

Kakkarrot felt the whole world spin around him. His vision became clouded in a red haze. He suddenly found the simple task of breathing too difficult for him. His nails dug into his palms so sharply that they drew tiny droplets of blood. He felt his core flare up in an anger that had never been experienced. His tail had straightened out and was now as stiff as a stick; the fine hairs bristled with energy. His hair began a slow transformation, his energy level beginning to spiral out of control.

Vegeta suddenly wished he could take back his words. However, the deed was done. He had struck a deep part of the other Saiyan’s pain, and although he felt a bit sorry for what he had done, another part cried out for Kakkarrot to release the spirit of his dead mate and to be with him. And if that meant crushing his heart, then so be it.

He braced himself and waited for the attack. His eyes widened in astonishment as he saw the transformation take place. Za’ani ! His dream! It was just like his dream!

There in front of him, in all of his glory, stood the most beautiful Super Saiyan he had ever seen. A ring of golden fire seemed to flicker around the infuriated man, and Vegeta could barely take his eyes off him. That dull flare of jealously at his inability to go to the legendary state as of yet threatened to overtake his rational thinking again.

~ So he is stronger…for now. He could probably beat me to a pulp and leave me for dead and make his entire people rest in peace, but I won’t let him! It will take a whole lot more than that to get rid of me! ~

And growling lowly in his throat, he waited for the inevitable. The next thing that happened however stunned him into complete and utter silence.

Kakkarrot slumped to the ground.

The shiny, golden warrior had collapsed unto the fragrant earth. The strong body began to shake silently, and for a moment, Vegeta wandered (ridiculously) if the cold had gotten to him. Shaking his head in bewilderment, he carefully stepped closer to the trembling figure. When he was sure that he wasn’t going to be attacked or jumped upon, he raised his foot and nudged the motionless figure gently.

“Kakkarrot?”

No reply.

“Kakkarrot?!” He tried louder, nudging the still figure a bit harder. “What is wrong with…arghh!!”

In the blink of an eye, he found himself lying on the ground and staring wildly up at a pair of gleaming teal-colored orbs. For several seconds he tried to make a coherent sentence, wanted to tell the fool to get off him, but all he could muster out was a weak gasp as Kakkarrot ground himself in a slow motion that was clearly erotic in its intent.

He closed his eyes and counted slowly, willing his throbbing and now aching arousal to stop. Finally feeling that he had everything under control, he spat out angrily.

“What do you think you are doing?! Get off me right now!! I am your King and I will not subject myself to such an inappropriate manner!!”

“Oh, but nu Ha’j …” Kakkarrot muttered huskily, his lips hovering lightly over the mark he had created last night on the strong neck. “We are not in the palace right now, are we? And besides…it is only right that I get to have my fun with my…mate…”

“You bastard!! I will have….aaaahhhh…” His eyes closed again in slight euphoria, as Kakkarrot had now made it a point of duty to lick at the wound in slow delicious circles. He found himself thrusting up in a signal of need and had to groan as he felt the sharp nips of Kakkarrot’s teeth against his skin.

Kakkarrot raised his head and stared deeply into the now-glazed eyes of Vegeta. Why was he doing this? Why couldn’t he just kill the Saiyan and get on with his life? Why did he have this sudden need and desire to be with him? How could you hate someone and yet need him or her so much? He tried to convince himself that he was only doing this to punish Vegeta. He wanted to humiliate the smaller man, to use Vegeta to satiate this burning lust within him. He silently hoped that this would at least extinguish any desire he had had for the powerful Saiyan.

But even as he felt himself get lost in those shining obsidian depths, he could not get himself to do it. For what seemed like a lifetime ago, they had been together. As much as he had tried to ignore that fact, he had been forced to relive the memories of their couplings. Each image bringing up a surge of emotion that he refused to admit as…Za’ani ! It had to be lust! He couldn’t possibly have those kinds of feelings for Vegeta! He just couldn’t! But there was no other way of putting it, Vegeta had become a part of his life, whether he wanted to admit it or not.

“This… is madness…” he finally muttered thickly, before swooping down to claim the moist and parted lips of Vegeta. He gripped Vegeta’s hands and pinned them to their sides, his tongue seeking and finding its way into the warm recesses of the sweetness that was his ruler. Tongues danced and twirled around in wanton delight, breaths became harsh as bodies strained to get even closer to each other.

Releasing each other to gasp for air, twin obsidian depths stared at each other in confusion and desire.

~ I should kill you right now and do everyone a favor. ~

~ Then why don’t you? ~

Endless minutes passed by as Kakkarrot sought for a suitable answer. It seemed like the more he tried to figure out a plausible reason, the less validity he could find. ~ Za’ani , Kakkarrot…~ Vegeta pleaded. ~ I am going insane…~

~ So am I, Vegeta…so am I… ~

And with another groan he pressed desperate lips in a kiss that threatened to snap any semblance of control in their beings. Kakkarrot released his lips again to trail them down the strong, bronzed neck before him, leaving tiny nips and bites along the way to the strong collarbone. He sucked lightly on the now-moistened skin, inhaling the sweaty, musky scent and relishing in the sharp pants of the now-writhing Saiyan beneath him. Hungry lips continued their journey down to twin nubs that were already hardened in anticipation. He licked at them, listening to the sharp gasp from Vegeta’s lips. Smiling softly at the response, he continued his ministrations, laving each nipple with equal and delicate care.

Vegeta twisted and bucked up sharply as Kakkarrot kept on with his torture. He longed to release his hands and clamp them in the blonde locks before him, but it seemed like Kakkarrot had no intentions of releasing him anytime soon. He hissed in another breath, softly whispering Kakkarrot’s name like a mantra, as he felt the talented tongue dance across his sweaty torso. He almost came as that same tongue skipped his obvious arousal, instead choosing to concentrate on his inner thighs, causing him to thrash about in wanton delight. His senses were almost at bursting point. His breathing was becoming haggard. Kakkarrot was killing him without even trying.

“Kakkarrot…please…” he begged, not caring how needy he sounded. He had to have this Saiyan…now!

“As you wish, nu Ha’j .”

Vegeta barely had the time to think before he felt his length engulfed by the warm mouth. He screamed out to the morning sky, arching his body into a taut bow as Kakkarrot sucked him into gradual madness. Kakkarrot raised his eyes to take in the look of abandon on the flushed and panting King’s face. He grinned in self-satisfaction. Knowing that he could reduce the all-knowing royal to a pile of mush was enough to make him feel even…more powerful.

“Do you like that, Vegeta?” He asked huskily, laving the moistened tip with saliva from his tongue.

“To the fires of the Valley with you, Kakkarrot!” Vegeta muttered harshly, his chest heaving with the effort it was taking to make a single sentence. “Enough with the teasing!”

A wicked smirk was all he received as a reply, before he suddenly found himself face down on the ground. Sputtering in disbelief and slight humiliation at how roughly he was being used, he growled out in irritation. “Just what are you planning to do, Kakkarrot? Sleep with me and then kill me? How appropriate….”

“Sssshhh…” Kakkarrot muttered softly into Vegeta’s ears, before sucking gently on the earlobes. “You talk too much.”

“Why you….ARGHHH!!!” Vegeta arched again, screaming in shock and slight pain as he felt Kakkarrot’s fingers plunge roughly into his tight opening. He bit his lower lip, squeezing his eyes shut as he felt the dual combination of exploring digits and a hungry tongue caress his heated skin. The sharp pain was subsiding a little, and it was soon replaced with a dull sense of pleasure. He sucked in a breath as he felt Kakkarrot’s fingers brush against that oh so sensitive place deep within him. He clawed his fingers into the earth, arching off the ground again as Kakkarrot continued mercilessly.

“Do you like that?” Kakkarrot asked again, clearly enjoying this gratuitous side of the petulant King.

Vegeta shook his head, refusing to give an answer…if he could speak that is…

“Alright then…since you won’t talk…”

Vegeta nearly passed out as he felt Kakkarrot withdraw his fingers. “No…please…” he whispered pleadingly, trying to turn around to see the others face. “Kakkarrot…I…”

His words were quickly cut off as he felt himself pulled onto the now-sitting form of Kakkarrot. He tried to turn around again, hoping to catch a glimpse of his tormentor, but was reduced to only arching his neck as he felt the sharp canines of his mate dig into his neck again. He shut his eyes in ecstasy as the flow of his blood and the sweet sucking motions of his lover sent him into a quivering mass of need.

“Kakkarrot…”

“Ahi, nu Ha’j …I will not keep you waiting any longer.”

Placing his strong hands upon the lean waist, he lifted Vegeta, and with a smooth thrust, he entered the writhing body. Both Saiyans screamed at the invasion, both unable to believe the amount of pain and pleasure that could be created with just one move. Slowly and steadily, Kakkarrot moved within his mate’s body, resting his head against the muscled back as he began to thrust in a smooth rhythm. “Za’ani , Vegeta…you are…so…tight…”

Vegeta could only gasp incoherently, his mind and vision no longer in existence. He arched against the thrusting body behind him, his lips parting into a loud whimper of lust as he felt Kakkarrot’s tail encircle his turgid flesh. He could feel his orgasm fast approaching, and he had to grit his teeth to stop the loud scream that threatened to escape his mouth again. With a fierce determination, he began to slam himself down onto Kakkarrot’s swollen heat, his head pounding as he felt Kakkarrot’s own release about to take place. “Oh, Za’ani …yes…Kakkarrot…aahhhh!!”

With a final tug on his member, Vegeta’s body tensed. Unable to keep it any longer, he bellowed his release out to the heavens, his essence splashing out in thick spurts into the windy air. He tensed again as he felt Kakkarrot’s hands tighten against his waist, the feel of his own arousal swelling and then christening the inner walls of his being with its slick warmth. With one final grunt, Kakkarrot collapsed bonelessly to the ground, pulling the now limp body of the sated King along with him. Bodies trembled in the satiated aftermath. Tails curled and uncurled around sweaty skins, as light kisses were exchanged.

Rumbles of lazy pleasure rumbled out from deep within their beings, as they lay quietly. Unconsciously, Kakkarrot began to stroke the auburn locks on his chest, idly listening to the King’s purr of approval. For several long minutes, they remained this way, no words needing to be said. It wasn’t long before the soft and even breathing of Vegeta caused him to stop his ministrations.

~ Oh, Za’ani …what have I done? ~

He stared down at the peaceful visage of the sleeping King, his own eyes unwillingly softening at the picture that the powerful Saiyan presented. ~ Why did it have to be you? ~

He raised his eyes back to the heavens and slowly transformed back to his normal raven locks. Not wishing to wake the sleeping man, he gingerly eased Vegeta off his body. A soft moan of protest from the smaller man caused him to freeze in his movements. He had to hold his breath for several torturous moments before he felt sure that Vegeta had gone back to sleep.

Nodding in satisfaction he jumped to his feet, subconsciously wrapping his tail around his waist. Raising his face to the morning air, he shut his eyes and allowed his senses to take over. He sniffed lightly.

~ There it is! ~

His father’s life force. Just a few miles away from here….he did not have much time left. He had to hurry…

Turning around to stare at the sleeping King, his lips quirked into a small smile mixed with slight regret and compassion.

~ I will come back for you, Vegeta. I promise. ~

Spinning back around to face the dusty landscape before him, his face contorted into a thoughtful frown.

And with a light grunt, he gathered enough energy, quickly taking off in search for the ki signatures of his dying father and his murderer…his uncle.

He never noticed the tears that ran silently down the King’s closed eyes.

~ Be careful…nu ra’hi . ~